- Main symptoms
- Possible causes of biliary mud
- Diagnosis of biliary mud
- How the treatment is done
- When surgery is needed
Gallbladder, also known as gallbladder or sand in the gallbladder, arises when the gallbladder cannot completely empty the bile into the intestine and, therefore, cholesterol and calcium salts accumulate and make the bile thicker.
Although bile mud does not cause serious health problems, it can slightly hinder digestion, causing a frequent feeling of poor digestion. In addition, the presence of mud also increases the risk of having gallstones.
Most of the time, bile mud or sand can be treated only with dietary changes, and surgery is only necessary when the gallbladder becomes very inflamed and causes severe symptoms.
Main symptoms
Most of the time the mud in the gallbladder does not cause any symptoms, being randomly identified during an ultrasound of the belly. However, it is also possible that gallstone-like symptoms may appear, such as:
- Severe pain in the right side of the belly; Nausea and vomiting; Clay-like stools; Loss of appetite; Gases; Bloating.
These symptoms are rare because the mud, although it makes it difficult to empty the gallbladder, does not prevent its functioning and, therefore, there are rare cases in which the gallbladder ignites and causes symptoms.
When the mud is not identified and also does not cause symptoms, it is very common that the person does not make any kind of change in diet and, therefore, may end up developing gall stones, which appear when the mud gets harder over time.
See the main symptoms of gallstones.
Possible causes of biliary mud
Mud appears when bile stays in the gallbladder for a long time and is more common in women and people who have some risk factors, such as:
- Diabetes; Excess weight; Very rapid weight loss; Organ transplantation; Use of contraceptives; Various pregnancies; Frequent dieting.
In addition, women in the last trimester of pregnancy also appear to be at increased risk of having mud in the gallbladder, mainly due to the major changes that the body undergoes during pregnancy.
Diagnosis of biliary mud
The gastroenterologist is the doctor indicated to make the diagnosis of biliary mud, which is done through physical examination and evaluation of the symptoms presented by the person. In addition, the doctor may order some imaging tests, such as ultrasound, MRI, tomography or a bile scan.
How the treatment is done
In many cases, no treatment for biliary mud is necessary, especially if it does not cause any symptoms. However, as there is a greater risk of developing gallstones, the doctor may advise you to consult a nutritionist to start a diet low in fat, cholesterol and salty foods.
Here's what the diet should look like for those with gallbladder problems:
When surgery is needed
It is usually necessary to operate when bile mud is causing intense symptoms or when, during the ultrasound, stones in the gallbladder are also identified. In most cases, surgery is done only as a way to prevent the bile ducts from becoming obstructed, causing severe inflammation of the gallbladder that can be life-threatening.
